WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday released the following statement after David Chipman’s nomination to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was withdrawn:

“Nearly 100 American lives are taken by gun violence every single day, but the ATF, the agency responsible for overseeing federal gun laws, hasn’t had a formal director in over six years. That’s a public safety nightmare. David Chipman is a former ATF agent and a mainstream nominee, but he couldn’t make it through the Senate because too many in this place are still beholden to the gun lobby and unwilling to cross the aisle to save lives. That’s the reality, and it’s frankly shameful. Thankfully, the American people want leaders who will address the gun violence epidemic in this country, and they will continue to elect candidates who are on the right side of these issues.”

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